Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

This project was part of the Lane Tech HS Physical Computing Lab course. I created this project as part of the Home Automation / IoT project.

Pet Feeder

It happens. Sometimes, you forget to feed your pet. This handy little device solves that problem.

This device is designed so that you can fill up the container, and not have to worry about your pet being fed for a couple of days. The specially designed, 3D printed bowl on the bottom is equipped with a force sensor, which detects if there is food in the bowl.

3D-Printed Bowl with a force sensor

If there is food in the bowl, great! Fine and dandy. But when there is no food, that's fine and dandy too! The device will detect an absence of food, and will automatically dispense more to fill up the bowl. No pet will go hungry when this device is around

But what happens when the container itself runs out of food? Not a problem! This device is made using Particle's photon microcontroller, meaning it can connect to WiFi

The circuitry, using a photon

Using the Blynk app, this device connects to your phone to send you emails whenever your container runs out of food, so that you can refill it right when it runs out.